Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1887-11-24
A TRIP 70 EUROPE.

How a Eoston Man Got n Vacation and
Good Rest.
heard in Il down town office tale which
recalls 1Iawthorne's story of the man who
went out for u walk one evening, after say
ing cnotbv to his wife, and did not return
for twenty years, which he spent i'll house
on the adjoining street. 1t seems that cltl-
zcn Of Boston, whose name, If should give
it. would I've recognized ut once by many OF
NY readers, found himself last spring i'll
y,rc worn and nervous condition. 1t seemed
to be absolutely necessary TINT ho should go
somewhere where it would be impossible for
letters OF kilograms OF business to annoy him.
Tho family physician suggested trip to
Europe md hii wife processing her willing
nesS TO stay at home and look inter the large
family Of children, the merchant, for such lie
was, apparently acquieSte,l. lilo stipulated
that no one should see him off, and that no
letters should be expected from him, but, in
stead, he promised to send "cableGram'
twice u week to his wife. The fact was that
he had horror of the sea voyage, and had Sc
rretly resolved to crafty Il homeSicE deslr
OF revisiting aloue--which he would never
have btc, allowed to do under ordinary cir
cuulstanccs-the village i'll q northern New
England region where his childhood was
spe.t However, he engaged passage III
White Star steamer, and, after an affection
ut. farewell to both his wife and children,
started for New York. He stayed in that
city Just long enough to make sure that his
name was on the passenger list Of the steam
ship and TO arrange for u series of half-weekly
"cablegrams' from Liverpool, London, Paris,
Luccrmc, etc, to his wife, and departed for
the country.
The trick was certainly n cruel one, but the
mans mental condition was so morbid and
perverted that think he must be held partly
eycusable Some admiration is also excited
Ly the neatness with which the plan was car
ricl ou. Prayers were duly offered in an
Episcopal church for "a person gone to sea"
his friends noted with satisfaction the qui,k
arrival of the steamer in which he was sup
posed to have sailed and the kilograms that
his wife received rv ry few days announcing
his continued improvement in health were
great satisfaction to her. In fact, however,
her husband was rusticating under al as
sun!ed name at n little tavern in his native
village. He bought II horse, rode about the
country reviving old recollections and
breathing in rest and Strength from the pure
mountain air.
difficult pnrt OF the affair. He had intended
at first to keep up the lelllSion to the very
end, md oetcnsibly return from til, foreign
t"vr laden with European presents, pur-
chased in New York. But rs his nerves re
covered their woiIted tone and his thoughts
bryan to be less enGro>scd with himself the
instinc. of honesty rrasscrted itself, and lie
,etcrminpd'to make Il full confession He
had kept Informed by some means of the
whereabouts and condition of his wife and
children, AMI accordingly he was able 70 SUR
prise them one day las: week by RIDING
calmly INTO the seaside village where they
were staying. and jlisnounting, hronZed and
healthy, in the bosom Of his family. a good
deal of explanation was necessary, and there
was some shame on one side and some
wounded feelings ON the other; but, upon the
principle that "al's well that ends well, the
affair was amicably settled. boston Post